Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (2024)

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This easy banana cream pie recipe is filled with layers of banana encased in a rich, creamy, vanilla custard, atop a flaky pie crust. It’s a family favorite!

For more fruity pies try Cherry Pie, Peach Pie, and Strawberry Pie.

Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (1)

calling all pie lovers!

I love a good easy banana cream pie recipe. It is simply delicious and refreshing!! That cool creamy custard filling atop layers of bananas is dessert perfection in my book.

Variations of banana cream pie have been around for centuries, but the classic American banana cream pie we all love became popular in the 1950s and fortunately, we still get to enjoy it today!

What’s not to love?!

  • Simple. The prep is easy but still includes a delicious homemade vanilla custard.
  • Delicious. Cream pies are by far one of my favorite pies to eat, and this rich and creamy banana cream pie always hits the spot!
  • Great for any occasion. Whether it’s for a BBQ or or a holiday like Easter or Memorial Day, this pie is perfection.
Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (2)

Ingredients

  • sugar
  • corn starch
  • salt
  • milk Using whole milk will help create a creamy custard, but 2% will also work. Avoid skim milk.
  • egg yolks See this post on How to Separate Egg Whites for tips
  • butter
  • vanilla extract
  • pre-baked pie crust – make a Homemade Pie crust from scratch or use pie crust dough from the freezer section at your grocery store
  • bananas
  • whipped cream store bough or Homemade Whipped Cream.
Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (3)

How to Make Banana Cream Pie

  1. CUSTARD. Whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan. Add the milk slowly, and whisk until combined. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent the milk from scorching.
    • Once the mixture has reached a simmer, simmer for one minute, until thickened. Remove from heat and pour about ½ cup of the mixture into the egg yolks, quickly stirring to prevent the eggs from curdling. Pour the egg mixture into the custard mixture, and stir to combine. Return the pot to the heat and bring the custard back to a simmer. Simmer for one minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in the butter and vanilla until smooth.
  2. CHILL. Pour the custard into a bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until cooled to room temperature.
  3. ASSEMBLE. Slice three of the bananas into the cooled pie crust (Graham Cracker crust works too). Pour the custard over the top of the bananas, spreading evenly. Refrigerate for at least one hour, or up to overnight.
  4. SERVE. Just before serving, pipe or spread the whipped cream or Cool Whip on top of the pie, and garnish with slices of the remaining banana.

Tempering the Eggs

Do not add eggs to hot liquid or they will cook into scrambled eggs. They must be tempered. This method brings the eggs to a hot temperature without cooking them fully. Once the eggs are hot and fully combined add them all to the main mixture.

Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (4)
Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (5)
Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (6)
Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (7)

Homemade Crust

Blind bake. Blind baking pie crust just means that it is baked before adding the pie filling. After the dough has been placed into the pie pan, poke holes all over the bottom and sides of the dough. This helps to keep the crust from shrinking.

Add pie weights or cover the pie dough with parchment paper fill the pie with dry beans and then bake in the oven.

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Recipe Tips

  • Brown bananas. The banana slices covered with the custard will not brown but those placed decoratively on top will. Slow the process down by treating them with citrus juice or Ball’s Fresh Fruit powder.
  • Check consistency. Dip the back of a spoon into the custard. It should be thick enough that it will not drip off the spoon.
    • Run your finger right through the middle of the spoon. The custard should stay in two separate sections and not run together. It needs to cook longer if it drips off the spoon or forms back into one after separating.
  • Thicken the custard. If the custard isn’t setting after being cooked sufficiently, add more cornstarch. In a separate bowl, mix 1-2 teaspoons of cornstarch with an equal amount of cold water. Pour the mixture into the custard and whisk to activate.
Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (9)

Storing Info

  • This easy banana cream pie needs to be made several hours ahead of time so that it has time to chill and set. More ways to prep/make this pie in advance:
    • Pie dough. Make the dough for the crust. Wrap it with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days or wrap it again with foil and freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw, if applicable, roll and bake when ready to use.
    • Baked crust. Allow the pie crust to cook and wrap it in foil. Store at room temperature for 1-2 days or freeze for 1 month.
    • Custard. Make the filling the day before and store it in the fridge. Add a piece of plastic directly on top of the custard to avoid a skin from forming.
    • Fully assembled pie. Cover a cooled pie with a piece of plastic directly on top of the custard for up to 4 days. Do not add toppings until right before serving.
  • STORE leftover pie in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
  • FREEZE Banana cream pie using a freezer-safe container, but keep in mind the texture may not be quite the same.
Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (10)

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Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (15)

Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (16)

5 from 22 votes

Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna

This easy banana cream pie recipe is filled with layers of banana encased in a rich, creamy, vanilla custard, atop a flaky pie crust!

Servings: 8

Prep: 20 minutes mins

Cook: 10 minutes mins

Chill time: 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Total: 2 hours hrs

Ingredients

for the custard:

  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 3 tablespoons corn starch
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups milk
  • 3 egg yolks beaten
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

for the pie:

  • 9 inch pre-baked pie crust cooled
  • 4 bananas sliced
  • 2 cups whipped cream

Instructions

  • To make the custard, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan. Add the milk slowly, and whisk until combined. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent the milk from scorching.

  • Once the mixture has reached a simmer, simmer for one minute, until thickened. Remove from heat and pour about ½ cup of the mixture into the egg yolks, quickly stirring to prevent the eggs from curdling.

    Pour the egg yolk mixture into the custard mixture, and stir to combine. Return the pot to the heat and bring the custard back to a simmer. Simmer for one minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in the butter and vanilla until smooth.

  • Pour the custard into a bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until cooled to room temperature.

  • To assemble the pie, slice three of the bananas into the cooled pie crust. Pour the custard over the top of the bananas, spreading evenly. Refrigerate for at least one hour, or up to overnight.

  • Just before serving, pipe or spread the whipped cream or Cool Whip on top of the pie, and garnish with slices of the remaining banana.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice, Calories: 1402kcal, Carbohydrates: 161g, Protein: 20g, Fat: 75g, Saturated Fat: 26g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g, Monounsaturated Fat: 33g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 99mg, Sodium: 1146mg, Potassium: 577mg, Fiber: 8g, Sugar: 30g, Vitamin A: 427IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 151mg, Iron: 7mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Making this recipe? Tag us!

Share it with us on Instagram using the hashtag #lilluna, so we can see what you’re creating in the kitchen!

Categorized as: American Recipes, Cuisines, Desserts, Holiday Desserts, Holidays, , Recipes

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep bananas from turning brown in a banana cream pie? ›

You can toss the sliced or diced banans in a bit of lemon juice before adding them to pie. or you can simply refrigerate them for long before adding to pudding, this may cause cold. Both of the above will restricts the bananas from turning brown.

Is banana cream pie made of pudding? ›

A delightful blend of creamy vanilla pudding and fresh bananas nestled in a buttery graham cracker crust for a quick and easy sweet treat. Hey there, sweet treat aficionados!

How to thicken banana cream pie filling? ›

Flour: All-purpose flour helps thicken the creamy filling. Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the flavors of the other ingredients, but it won't make your pie taste salty.

What's the difference between custard pie and cream pie? ›

In North America, "custard pie" commonly refers to a plain mixture of milk, eggs, sugar, salt, vanilla extract and sometimes nutmeg combined with a pie crust. It is distinctly different from a cream pie, which contains cooked custard poured into a cooled, precooked crust.

How long will lemon juice keep bananas from turning brown? ›

However, if you sprinkle them with a little lemon juice, it lowers the pH levels and will keep browning at bay. Following the lemon trick, put them in the fridge, either wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight food storage container or bag. Stored this way, sliced bananas can stay fresh for three to four days.

Does pineapple juice keep bananas from turning brown? ›

Keep cut fruits, such as apples, pears, bananas, and peaches from turning brown by: Coating them with an acidic juice such as lemon, orange, or pineapple juice. Use a commercial anti-darkening preparation with fruits, such as Fruit-Fresh®*, and follow the manufacturer's directions.

Why does my banana cream pie get watery? ›

Why is my banana cream pie runny? When cooking the filling, it is important to cook it at a low boil, in order to activate the corn starch and heat the egg yolks to a temperature that they will adequately thicken the custard. Once chilled, this should keep your banana cream pie from being runny.

What is a interesting fact about banana cream pies? ›

In a 1951 survey conducted by the United States Armed Services, banana cream pie was ranked the soldier's favorite dessert! If your banana cream pie has a "black bottom", that means that it has chocolate on the bottom!

What is cream pie filling made of? ›

A cream pie, crème pie, or creme pie is a type of pie filled with a rich custard or pudding that is made from milk, cream, sugar, wheat flour, and eggs and typically topped with whipped cream.

Why didn't my cream pie set? ›

When making cream pie filling, always do it on the stove and make sure that you really brought it to a boil. Egg yolks contain an enzyme which liquidifies starch. The enzyme is deactivated at above 90°C. If you don't heat a mixture with eggs and starch (and flour) enough, it will turn into a soup after a day.

What thickens a cream pie? ›

Cornstarch as Pie Filling Thickener

Just like the name suggests, cornstarch is derived from corn. Cornstarch is faster-acting than flour and forms a smooth, relatively clear filling. Just be aware that too much cornstarch can create a slimy texture.

What is the best ingredient to use in thickening the filling of cream pies? ›

Very often flour or cornstarch is used, but in certain instances tapioca, arrowroot and potato starch can also help achieve the desired consistency. Tapioca starch is preferable for products that will be frozen because it will not break down when thawed.

Why does my custard pie taste like scrambled eggs? ›

Why does my egg custard pie taste like scrambled eggs? Overbaked custard can lead to an eggy flavor and rubbery consistency. Make sure to bake the custard pie until slightly jiggly in the center.

Why is Boston cream pie considered a pie? ›

A Boston cream pie is a cake with a cream filling. The dessert acquired its name when cakes and pies were baked in the same pans, and the words were used interchangeably. In the late 19th century, this type of cake was variously called a "cream pie", a "chocolate cream pie", or a "custard cake".

How do you make banana puree not turn brown? ›

Sprinkle a few drops of citrus juice—lemon, lime, or orange—into the purée to slow down oxidation. The juice contains ascorbic acid which prevents oxidation.

Does putting bananas in the fridge stop them from browning? ›

Placing bananas in the fridge will keep the fruit fresh, but the banana peel may turn brown. The cooler temperature slows the ripening process, and as long as your banana is yellow and fresh when you put it in the fridge, it will be safe to consume after cooling in the fridge for a couple of days.

References

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